Resource Legislation Amendment Bill

  • enacted
38 New subpart 2 of Part 5 and new subpart 3 heading in Part 5 inserted

After section 58J (as inserted by section 37 of the Resource Legislation Amendment Act 2015), insert:

Subpart 2—Mana Whakahono a Rohe: Iwi participation arrangements

58K Definitions

In this subpart and Schedule 1,—

area of interest means the area that the iwi and hapū represented by an iwi authority identify as their traditional rohe

initiating iwi authority has the meaning given in section 58N(1)

iwi participation legislation means legislation (other than this Act), including any legislation listed in Schedule 3 of the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975, that provides a role for iwi or hapū in processes under this Act

Mana Whakahono a Rohe means an iwi participation arrangement entered into under this subpart

participating authorities has the meaning given in section 58N(5)

participating iwi authorities means the iwi authorities that—

(a)

have agreed to participate in a Mana Whakahono a Rohe; and

(b)

have agreed the order in which negotiations are to be conducted

relevant iwi authority means an iwi authority whose area of interest overlaps with, or is adjacent to, the area of interest of an initiating iwi authority

relevant local authority means a district or regional council whose area of interest overlaps with, or is adjacent to, the area of interest represented by the initiating iwi authority.

Purpose and guiding principles

58L Purpose of Mana Whakahono a Rohe

The purpose of a Mana Whakahono a Rohe is—

(a)

to provide a mechanism for iwi authorities and local authorities to discuss, agree, and record ways in which tangata whenua may, through their iwi authorities, participate in resource management and decision-making processes under this Act; and

(b)

to assist local authorities to comply with their statutory duties under this Act, including through the implementation of sections 6(e), 7(a), and 8.

58M Guiding principles

In initiating, developing, and implementing a Mana Whakahono a Rohe, the participating authorities must use their best endeavours—

(a)

to achieve the purpose of the Mana Whakahono a Rohe in an enduring manner:

(b)

to enhance the opportunities for collaboration amongst the participating authorities, including by promoting—

(i)

the use of integrated processes:

(ii)

co-ordination of the resources required to undertake the obligations and responsibilities of the parties to the Mana Whakahono a Rohe:

(c)

in determining whether to proceed to negotiate a joint or multi-party Mana Whakahono a Rohe, to achieve the most effective and efficient means of meeting the statutory obligations of the participating authorities:

(d)

to work together in good faith and in a spirit of co-operation:

(e)

to communicate with each other in an open, transparent, and honest manner:

(f)

to recognise and acknowledge the benefit of working together by sharing their respective vision and expertise:

(g)

to commit to meeting statutory time frames and minimise delays and costs associated with the statutory processes:

(h)

to recognise that a Mana Whakahono a Rohe under this subpart does not limit the requirements of any relevant iwi participation legislation or the agreements associated with that legislation.

Initiating Mana Whakahono a Rohe

58N Initiation of Mana Whakahono a Rohe
Invitation from 1 or more iwi authorities

(1)

At any time other than in the period that is 90 days before the date of a triennial election under the Local Electoral Act 2001, 1 or more iwi authorities representing tangata whenua (the initiating iwi authorities) may invite 1 or more relevant local authorities in writing to enter into a Mana Whakahono a Rohe with the 1 or more iwi authorities.

Obligations of local authorities that receive invitation

(2)

As soon as is reasonably practicable after receiving an invitation under subsection (1), the local authorities—

(a)

may advise any relevant iwi authorities and relevant local authorities that the invitation has been received; and

(b)

must convene a hui or meeting of the initiating iwi authority and any iwi authority or local authority identified under paragraph (a) (the parties) that wishes to participate to discuss how they will work together to develop a Mana Whakahono a Rohe under this subpart.

(3)

The hui or meeting required by subsection (2)(b) must be held not later than 60 working days after the invitation sent under subsection (1) is received, unless the parties agree otherwise.

(4)

The purpose of the hui or meeting is to provide an opportunity for the iwi authorities and local authorities concerned to discuss and agree on—

(a)

the process for negotiation of 1 or more Mana Whakahono a Rohe; and

(b)

which parties are to be involved in the negotiations; and

(c)

the times by which specified stages of the negotiations must be concluded.

(5)

The iwi authorities and local authorities that are able to agree at the hui or meeting how they will develop a Mana Whakahono a Rohe (the participating authorities) must proceed to negotiate the terms of the Mana Whakahono a Rohe in accordance with that agreement and this subpart.

(6)

If 1 or more local authorities in an area are negotiating a Mana Whakahono a Rohe and a further invitation is received under subsection (1), the participating iwi authorities and relevant local authorities may agree on the order in which they negotiate the Mana Whakahono a Rohe.

Other matters relevant to Mana Whakahono a Rohe

(7)

If an iwi authority and a local authority have at any time entered into a relationship agreement, to the extent that the agreement relates to resource management matters, the parties to that agreement may, by written agreement, treat that agreement as if it were a Mana Whakahono a Rohe entered into under this subpart.

(8)

The participating authorities must take account of the extent to which resource management matters are included in any iwi participation legislation and seek to minimise duplication between the functions of the participating authorities under that legislation and those arising under the Mana Whakahono a Rohe.

(9)

Nothing in this subpart prevents a local authority from commencing, continuing, or completing any process under the Act while waiting for a response from, or negotiating a Mana Whakahono a Rohe with, 1 or more iwi authorities.

58O Other opportunities to initiate Mana Whakahono a Rohe
Later initiation by iwi authority

(1)

An iwi authority that, at the time of receiving an invitation to a meeting or hui under section 58N(2)(b), does not wish to participate in negotiating a Mana Whakahono a Rohe, or withdraws from negotiations before a Mana Whakahono a Rohe is agreed, may participate in, or initiate, a Mana Whakahono a Rohe at any later time (other than within the period that is 90 days before a triennial election under the Local Electoral Act 2001).

(2)

If a Mana Whakahono a Rohe exists and another iwi authority in the same area as the initiating iwi wishes to initiate a Mana Whakahono a Rohe under section 58N(1), that iwi authority must first consider joining the existing Mana Whakahono a Rohe.

(3)

The provisions of this subpart apply to any initiation under subsection (1).

Initiation by local authority

(4)

A local authority may initiate a Mana Whakahono a Rohe with an iwi authority or with hapū.

(5)

The local authority and iwi authority or hapū concerned must agree on—

(a)

the process to be adopted; and

(b)

the time period within which the negotiations are to be concluded; and

(c)

how the Mana Whakahono a Rohe is to be implemented after negotiations are concluded.

(6)

If 1 or more hapū are invited to enter a Mana Whakahono a Rohe under subsection (4), the provisions of this subpart apply as if the references to an iwi authority were references to 1 or more hapū, to the extent that the provisions relate to the contents of a Mana Whakahono a Rohe (see sections 58L, 58M, 58Q, 58S, and 58T).

58P Time frame for concluding Mana Whakahono a Rohe

If an invitation is initiated under section 58N(1), the participating authorities must conclude a Mana Whakahono a Rohe within—

(a)

18 months after the date on which the invitation is received; or

(b)

any other period agreed by all the participating authorities.

Contents

58Q Contents of Mana Whakahono a Rohe

(1)

A Mana Whakahono a Rohe must—

(a)

be recorded in writing; and

(b)

identify the participating authorities; and

(c)

record the agreement of the participating authorities about—

(i)

how an iwi authority may participate in the preparation or change of a policy statement or plan, including the use of any of the pre-notification, collaborative, or streamlined planning processes under Schedule 1; and

(ii)

how the participating authorities will undertake consultation requirements, including the requirements of section 34A(1A) and clause 4A of Schedule 1; and

(iii)

how the participating authorities will work together to develop and agree on methods for monitoring under the under this Act; and

(iv)

how the participating authorities will give effect to the requirements of any relevant iwi participation legislation, or of any agreements associated with, or entered into under, that legislation; and

(v)

a process for identifying and managing conflicts of interest; and

(vi)

the process that the parties will use for resolving disputes about the implementation of the Mana Whakahono a Rohe, including the matters described in subsection (2).

(2)

The dispute resolution process recorded under subsection (1)(c)(vi) must—

(a)

set out the extent to which the outcome of a dispute resolution process may constitute an agreement—

(i)

to alter or terminate a Mana Whakahono a Rohe (see subsection (5)):

(ii)

to conclude a Mana Whakahono a Rohe at a time other than that specified in section 58P:

(iii)

to complete a Mana Whakahono a Rohe at a later date (see section 58S(2)):

(iv)

jointly to review the effectiveness of a Mana Whakahono a Rohe at a later date (see section 58S(3)):

(v)

to undertake any additional reporting (see section 58S(5)); and

(b)

require each of the participating authorities to bear its own costs for any dispute resolution process undertaken.

(3)

The dispute resolution process must not require a local authority to suspend commencing, continuing, or completing any process under the Act while the dispute resolution process is in contemplation or is in progress.

(4)

A Mana Whakahono a Rohe may also specify—

(a)

how a local authority is to consult or notify an iwi authority on resource consent matters, where the Act provides for consultation or notification:

(b)

the circumstances in which an iwi authority may be given limited notification as an affected party:

(c)

any arrangement relating to other functions, duties, or powers under this Act:

(d)

if there are 2 or more iwi authorities participating in a Mana Whakahono a Rohe, how those iwi authorities will work collectively together to participate with local authorities:

(e)

whether a participating iwi authority has delegated to a person or group of persons (including hapū) a role to participate in particular processes under this Act.

(5)

Unless the participating authorities agree,—

(a)

the contents of a Mana Whakahono a Rohe must not be altered; and

(b)

a Mana Whakahono a Rohe must not be terminated.

(6)

If 2 or more iwi authorities collectively have entered into a Mana Whakahono a Rohe with a local authority, any 1 of the iwi authorities, if seeking to amend the contents of the Mana Whakahono a Rohe, must negotiate with the local authority for that purpose rather than seek to enter into a new Mana Whakahono a Rohe.

58R Resolution of disputes that arise in course of negotiating Mana Whakahono a Rohe

(1)

This section applies if a dispute arises among participating authorities in the course of negotiating a Mana Whakahono a Rohe.

(2)

The participating authorities—

(a)

may by agreement undertake a binding process of dispute resolution; but

(b)

if they do not reach agreement on a binding process, must undertake a non-binding process of dispute resolution.

(3)

Whether the participating authorities choose a binding process or a non-binding process, each authority must—

(a)

jointly appoint an arbitrator or a mediator; and

(b)

meet its own costs of the process.

(4)

If the dispute remains unresolved after a non-binding process has been undertaken, the participating authorities may individually or jointly seek the assistance of the Minister.

(5)

The Minister, with a view to assisting the participating authorities to resolve the dispute and conclude a Mana Whakahono a Rohe, may—

(a)

appoint, and meet the costs of, a Crown facilitator:

(b)

direct the participating authorities to use a particular alternative dispute resolution process for that purpose.

58S Review and monitoring

(1)

A local authority that enters into a Mana Whakahono a Rohe under this subpart must review its policies and processes to ensure that they are consistent with the Mana Whakahono a Rohe.

(2)

The review required by subsection (1) must be completed not later than 6 months after the date of the Mana Whakahono a Rohe, unless a later date is agreed by the participating authorities.

(3)

Every sixth anniversary after the date of a Mana Whakahono a Rohe, or at any other time by agreement, the participating authorities must jointly review the effectiveness of the Mana Whakahono a Rohe, having regard to the purpose of a Mana Whakahono a Rohe stated in section 58L and the guiding principles set out in section 58M.

(4)

The obligations under this section are in addition to the obligations of a local authority under—

(a)

section 27 (the provision of information to the Minister):

(b)

section 35 (monitoring and record keeping).

(5)

Any additional reporting may be undertaken by agreement of the participating authorities.

58T Relationship with iwi participation legislation

A Mana Whakahono a Rohe does not limit any relevant provision of any iwi participation legislation or any agreement under that legislation.

Subpart 3—Local authority policy statements and plans